nature-and covered with the thorns and briers of earthly cares, the abode of evil tempers and evil spirits.

Nothing that we have yet seen, conveys to our minds so completely the idea of a Missionary Establishment, as that at Baddagamme. We should be glad if all our Missionaries could visit it, and learn a useful lesson from what they would see.

Mr. Mayor, at one time, when there was no regular Medical Man at Galle, discharged, with satisfaction to all, the important functions of that situation. His knowledge of physic and surgery, he finds of vast service among the Natives: it gives him almost unbounded influence over them; insomuch that the horrid practice resorted to by the Natives in cases of sickness-the "DEVIL'S DANCE"-has fallen into almost entire disuse, in the neighbourhood of Baddagamme, and the people bring their sick regularly to be healed,

While Mr. Mayor attends to the building of the Church and the rougher work, Mr. Ward is engaged with the Schools. We went one day to the School Room, where we found between thirty and forty Boys, whom we heard go through their lessons in English and in Cingalese with great satisfaction.

The Natives of this Island, less fettered by the prejudices of caste and the different superstitions which prevail among those of the Continent, are more accessible to the efforts of Mssionaries. They are the only Nation of Atheists which we have heard of: for, although they admit the existence of a superior order of beings (which are, in fact, the souls of men disunited from the body) yet they deny the existence of One Supreme Being; and affirm that the world and all things in the universe were created by chance. Budhu, from whom their religious system is denominated, is, with them, not a God, but a very holy Priest; who, having gone through various trials, is now in a beatified state. Any man may, according to their notions, become a Budhu, if he will be equally holy. Their OBJECT OF WORSHIP IS THE DEVIL; whom they are accustomed to propitiate by horrid ceremonies, of which the dance is a principal one.

To return to the Mission House and its inhabitants. Our friends there say that the chief fault which they have to find with the Natives is, their extreme propensity to lying and deceit. The Missionaries both speak the language. Mr. Mayor speaks it with great fluency.

Before the workmen begin their labour in the morning, they are assembled under a shed; where one of the Missionaries delivers a short exhortation, and then offers up a prayer with them.

These two Gentlemen consider themselves, and all that they possess, as the entire property of the Society which employs them. Their own wills, they gladly resign to that of the Committee. They are contented with their salaries, which they find

abundant for all their wants: and their whole care seems to be what measures will be best suited to bring the Heathen, among whom they are settled, out of darkness into light. A Missionary should, in their opinion, quit all European Society, except so far as may be necessary for the supply of his temporal wants: be should reside entirely among the Natives-spend his life, his talents, his money, his all among them-and preach to them, not merely with the mouth, but by the far more effectual means of Example. And who will say that their opinion is not right? We never saw men actuated by a spirit more truly Apostolic. And while they are engaged about the building and the instruction of the Boys, their Wives take their places amidst a number of Native Girls, whom they instruct in reading and needle-work: in truth, they are Missionaries as much as their Husbands: they appear to have studied the language, and seem determined to forward the endeavours of their Husbands to the utmost of their power: they have each two young children, whom they appear to bring up with great judgment: their house is a pattern of neatness and comfort; but contains nothing superfluous.

We spent three very happy days among them, and shall ever rejoice that we have formed the acquaintance of such truly estimable characters.

NELLORE.

The Rev. Joseph Knight has, for some time, laboured alone at this Station. The Rev. Joseph Bailey, with Mrs. Bailey and the Sister of Mr. Knight, having been appointed to assist him, arrived at Trincomalee, on the 1st of December, as has been already noticed. The rains were then very heavy on that side of the Island; and would detain them, for six weeks, before they could proceed to Nellore. They had received great kindness from Mr. Carver, the Wesleyan Missionary at Trincomalee; from the Gentlemen in authority at the Settlement; and from Colonel Cardew, who had been their fellow-passenger on board the Palmira.

Mr. Knight would gladly receive them. His Brethren who assembled here with him at the Annual Meeting in September, passed the following Resolution, expressive of their feelings on the view of his labours:

-That the Brethren have much cause for thankfulness, for what they have seen of the Missionary. Work carrying on here. The

field of labour is very extensive, and our solitary Brother is occupying it to the utmost of his power, and the prospect is encouraging: we feel, therefore, most thankful to the Committee, for their resolution to send him a fellow-labourer.

Mr. Knight had been authorised to purchase the premises where he resides, and which were described in the last Report. After some delay on account of the price first asked, these premises have been obtained for 2000 rix-dollars,

The prevalence, in this part of the Island, of the fatal Epidemic which has so long ravaged India, has been already mentioned. While Mr. Knight witnessed its desolations, he writes

The Providence of God seems to be calling on Missionaries to be diligent and active-to work while it is called to-day. Numbers are falling by death, on the right hand and on the left; and we have no assurance that our lives will be protracted to a future period. May we then be careful to redeem the time which God gives us! Though the Heathen are not more averse from their idols and superstitions than usual, nor more favourably disposed toward the Gospel, I feel it, if possible, more important than ever, to warn them of their danger, and to urge them to fly to Christ for salvation before death overtakes them. May the Lord sanctify the awful visitation; both to us Missionaries and to the Heathen whom we are sent to instruct; that thus souls may be saved and God may be glorified!

For the direct work of the MINISTRY, Mr. Knight has been assiduously labouring to qualify himself, and with good success, by the acquisition of the Language. He has continued his usual course of preaching, at his own house and in the villages. The Congregations have fluctuated: the people have not yet learned the worth of the Christian Sabbath: their temporal concerns, or their superstitions, often prevent their attendance on Public Worship. The places, however, where they assembled, both at Nellore and at Kykooler the principal village, were inconveniently crowded: a Bungalow, or native building, was, in consequence, erecting at Kykooler, and another was about to be built on the newly-purchased premises at Nellore: as good accommodation would be afforded hereby for Public Worship, Mr. Knight expected an increase of attend

ance. For the blessing of God on his labours he is waiting in faith. He writes

Glad should I be, could I inform you of a good work being begun at Nellore: as yet, however, I am endeavouring to cultivate the soil, and to scatter abroad the seeds of Divine Truth, in hope. Yes, though no fruit nor scarcely a germe as yet appears to gladden the Labourer's heart, I will yet sow, in certain hope of a future harvest. The promise is sure, and must have its accomplishment; and while, as in the present day, so many efforts are made and so many prayers offered, I feel that if I am but faithful, I cannot labour in vain. May the Lord give me more of His Divine Spirit, that I may not faint in the day of adversity, but persevere unto the end!

The Rev. Christian David having been absent, for a time, from the Congregation of Native Christians, of which he has charge in the neighbourhood, Mr. Knight supplied his place for several months in the summer of last year-holding Public Service with them twice a week, on Sunday Mornings after his own Service, and on Friday Evenings; besides the discharge of the occasional duties. Though this was a great addition to his labour, Mr. Knight was much refreshed by witnessing the regular attendance and devout behaviour of the Congregation; and the acceptance which his services obtained among them, though accustomed to the ready utterance and copious expression of their Native Pastor.

A considerable increase has taken place in the SCHOOLS Connected with this Station. The following List will shew their state in July :

The Schools at Narduterru and Koviterru are New

Schools, formed in villages before destitute of instruc

tion that at Pariarterru is the Second Chiviarterru School of the last Report. A great increase of Scholars will be seen by comparing this List with that which preceded. Of the numbers destitute of instruction in this neighbourhood, Mr. Knight thus speaks:

There are yet three or four populous villages, where there are promising openings for Schools. They are rather more remote than our present Schools, yet sufficiently near for the Children to attend at my house on the Sabbath Day.

The observance of the Sabbath in this way, I consider very important; and I should be sorry to establish a School where it could not be attended to; as, in addition to the injury which it would prove to the School itself, the example would be likely to be very pernicious to the others: but I expect that 150 more Scholars, at least, might be found, at convenient distances, to attend in this manner; and my only reason for not establishing more Schools is the want of room for them to assemble on the Sabbath, and the fear of my not being able properly to attend to them.

Of course, the number of Girls is equal to that of Boys, for whom no means of instruction whatever is afforded. This is a lamentable evil; but under present circumstances, it appears irremediable. If the Parents were Christians, hopes might be entertained of inducing them to obtain instruction for their Daughters, but they are all Heathens, deeply enslaved by the superstitious dogma-that no Girl may be instructed!

From this statement, it appears that there are, at least, 550 Boys round my Station, sufficiently near to be collected together for Worship on the Sabbath Day: and if to these be added the number of, probably, 200 or 300 Low-Caste Boys and others, who are employed at work or sent to Heathen Schools, we shall have a total of more than 800 Boys, and an equal number of Girls, from four to eight or ten years of age, within the distance of about a mile-and-a-half or two miles from my residence; and if the limit be extended another mile-and-a-half, so as to include Jaffna, the number would probably be nearly tripled.

From this statement, some estimate may be formed of the number of Inhabitants in this populous part of the Island. If it be correct, and I think it is, there are nearly 4800 Children within the limit before mentioned: and, of these, I believe that not more than 500, even of the Boys, are under Christian Teaching; and, excepting a few taught in the Town of Jaffna, the Girls are altogether destitute of instruction.

The other Christian Schools within this circuit, besides those connected with my Station, belong to Mr. David and the Wesleyan Missionaries. There are some Roman-Catholic Schools, also, round Jaffna: but though, in these, a certain formulary of